The Luxury Candle Company Rooted in Self-Care and Social Impact
In this soulful and inspiring episode, I kick back with the dynamic mother-daughter duo behind Kobi Co., a Minneapolis-based candle company that blends aromatherapy, self-care, and soul care into every product. Kobi Gregory and her mother Tasha Harris share their journey of launching a business during the pandemic, creating community-centered products, and turning a side hustle into a thriving brick-and-mortar brand.
A Pandemic-Born Business Built on Self-Care
When Kobi Gregory started making candles in 2020 to fund an HBCU college tour, she couldn't have known that a global pandemic was about to change everything. Meanwhile, her mother Tasha Harris had just walked away from a 28-year corporate career after facing a toxic work environment.
What started as a creative outlet and fundraising project quickly became something more meaningful during the isolation of COVID lockdowns. The mother-daughter team discovered that creating aromatherapy products wasn't just good business—it was essential self-care for themselves and their community.
"I struggled a lot with anxiety and depression," Kobi explains. "Music and candles and aromatherapy and all those tools really helped me out. And so I wanted to help other people with these tools as well."
More Than Just Candles: A Soul Care Revolution
Five years later, Kobi Co. has evolved into a thriving business with a brick-and-mortar location in downtown Minneapolis. Their unique selling point? Each candle comes with its own curated playlist, accessible via QR code, creating a multi-sensory self-care experience.
While their product line has expanded beyond candles, the most impactful offering is their workshop series, where customers can make their own candles and sugar scrubs. These experiences have become so popular that they now offer team-building workshops for corporations and organizations.
Community Impact at the Core
For Kobi and Tasha, business success means nothing without giving back. They've established a scholarship fund for BIPOC women pursuing higher education, donated to the Michelle Young Foundation, and supported HBCU college tours.
"When you're blessed, you bless others," Tasha emphasizes. "That's been our goal."
Their store also serves as a platform for other Black-owned businesses, creating a community hub for entrepreneurs.
National Recognition
Their dedication hasn't gone unnoticed. Kobi Co. has been featured in major publications including Black Enterprise, Cosmopolitan, Essence, and Rolling Out. Their products even appeared on Kerry Washington's Hulu show "Unprisoned" and in an ESPN Champion Black Business commercial during the NBA Finals.
The Mother-Daughter Dynamic
Working together as mother and daughter hasn't always been easy. Kobi initially tried to establish clear boundaries, but they quickly realized the importance of integrating both relationships, allowing their strengths to complement each other. Tasha handles operations and financials while Kobi manages the creative direction and workshops. Both credit therapy with helping them develop the communication skills needed to work together effectively.
Business Wisdom to Share
After five years in business, Kobi and Tasha have valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs:
Read the book The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It to understand the difference between working in your business versus on your business
Identify your respective skillsets and operate in your gifts
Ask for help and utilize community resources
Count your blessings and celebrate your wins
Give yourself grace and move at your own pace
Remember that rest is restoration
Looking Ahead
As they celebrate their fifth anniversary this year, Kobi Co. has exciting plans on the horizon, including a "tiny store concert series" featuring local musicians—a perfect extension of their playlist-paired candles.
Experience Kobi Co.
Ready to experience the soul-soothing combination of scent and sound that Kobi Co. offers? Their most popular scents include "Chillaxin" and "Black Lives Matter;” each paired with the perfect playlist.
Visit them online or stop by their brick-and-mortar store in downtown Minneapolis. Their products can also be found at local retailers including Electric Fetus, Down in the Valley, Patina, The Wedge, and Kowalski's.
— Visit Kobi Co.
— Follow Kobi Co. on Instagram
-Organizations mentioned Sister Biz Global Network
